Quarantine regulations in Panama

To import plants, plant products, and plant protection products for use in agriculture, packaging materials, containers, and/or recipients, means of transport, passenger baggage and belongings, postal packages, animals, animal products and byproducts, medications for veterinary use, and biological, biotechnological, chemical, and feed products for animal use and consumption, you must first obtain a Plant and Animal Health Import Permit from the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Panama (MIDA).

It is a violation to:

Fail to obtain the Plant and Animal Health Import and Transit Permit or the Plant and Animal Health Certificate issued by the appropriate authority in the country of origin.

Forge or alter Plant and Animal Health Certificates, inspection records, or other official documents.

Obstruct or hinder the implementation of orders issued or measures taken by authorized officials to enforce the laws, rules, and regulations.

Commit any other violation or omission listed in Law 23 of July 15, 1997 or Law 47 of July 9, 1996.

Upon entry, all products subject to quarantine will be inspected and checked prior to being allowed or denied entry. The following is a partial list of products subject to quarantine:

Animals: live animals.

Products of animal origin: semen, embryos, hatching eggs.

Biological products for veterinary use.

Medications for veterinary use.

Plants: live plants and parts of live plants, including seeds and transgenic material.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Be responsible and comply with plant and animal health measures. Otherwise, you could endanger agriculture, public health, the environment, biological diversity, and more, which are all directly affected by these measures.

If you need more information or assistance, you can contact:

The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) Executive Bureau for Agricultural Quarantine (DECA)

It is the passenger’s responsibility to be informed of and comply with the legal and regulatory requirements on the transport of these items and products. Copa Airlines is not responsible for the confiscation of such items and products by the appropriate authorities. Many countries prohibit the entry of these products, since they may carry plant and animal pests and diseases, so passengers should not transport them. Products subject to this restriction include: seeds, flowers, fruits, aromatic herbs, vegetables, meat products, biopesticides, and plants with or without dirt, and animal and plant byproducts. Failure to declare these products is against the law.